The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Sergeant Kenneth Lee Smithson (ASN: 34490776), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Company E, 2d Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces near Osteim, France, on 25 January 1945. Sergeant Smithson, light machine gun squad leader, dashed fifty yards through withering automatic fire to support his temporarily halted company. Under furious crossfire, with grenades exploding fifteen yards away and ripping his clothing, he destroyed a machine gun with a hand grenade, crawled twenty yards to a shallow ditch and silenced two more machine guns with sub-machine gun fire. Voluntarily covering his company’s withdrawal, he fought valiantly for over an hour in his isolated, exposed and perilous position, killing an estimated eight of the enemy. Sergeant Smithson’s extraordinary heroism, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.